Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires .17 HMR shortage has begun?

I have been thinking of getting the Ruger American in .17 HMR as it is a performer and ammo seemed to be available compared to .22 RF. I used to have a Ruger 77/17 and a CZ 452 in .17 HMR, got rid of them as the ammo kept going up in price and I wanted to try some European made stuff, which generally did not exist.

Also, .17 HMR is really a 100 yard cartridge and my high velocity .22 works great at that distance in my CZ 452 .22, I use my center fires for longer shots. Went to Academy yesterday and did not see any .17 HMR on the shelf, checked Grafs, Cabelas, Ammunition to Go, Midsouth Shooters supply, and Midway USA just now. No one has any .17 HMR for sale, looks like this is the new hard to get rimfire. Are people going to line up at Wally World to buy this and then sell at scalper prices? Did the scalpers realize that people no longer are going to pay high prices on .22's and have switched to other types like the .17 HMR?

There's a ton of 17HMR ammo available. Try the ammo search bots. I just checked slickguns and a bunch showed up.

I hope you are right. Maybe now we can get some 22's. LOL! I think all those scalper standing in line are buying what ever rimfire is on the shelf at this point.

There are stacks of .17 HMR on the shelves of at least two local stores here, and the stacks aren't shrinking quickly because it's been around for at least a couple months now in several stores--probably because Montana stores ordered it a while back, because it's really popular here.

And no, it isn't a 100-yard cartridge. I have shot thousands of varmints over the past dozen years with it, and on a calm day it's a 200-yard cartridge, and even in a higher than average Montana wind it's a 150-yard cartridge. And even out to 100 it's a lot easier to hit with than a .22 Long Rifle, because when sighted-in dead-on at 100 you can aim dead-on from 35 to 100 and hit what you're aiming at. And it's usually far more accurate than .22 Long Rifle hunting ammo. Three-shot groups of well under 1/2" at 100 aren't uncommon.

John,

I find .17 HMR to be more accurate than .22 WMR.

DF

By far, with rare exceptions of certain ammo in certain rifles. It also drifts far less in the wind than the .22 Magnum, which some people find hard to believe.

In practical terms it's also far more accurate than .22 Long Rifle. I have yet to see a .22 Long Rifle group as well at 100+ yards with hunting ammo, and there's some very accurate .22 HP--when you can find it.

Okay, which is more accurate? The 17 grain bullet or the 20 grainers?

Only a shortage if ya didn't buy enough to begin with yrs ago.

I suppose it depends on the rifle. My Marlin 917 is MUCH more accurate with the 17's.

It would also depend on the manufacturing lot, both of ammo and bullets, a major factor in rimfire ammunition.

I get better accuracy with the 20 gr CCI Gamepoint than I do with the 17 gr V-Max out of my Ruger American Rimfire.

I have also heard from a few people that the Hornady load with the non-toxic 15.5 grain bullet is more accurate in their rifles than the 17-grain V-Max, in both the .17 Mach 2 and HMR. But haven't been able to find any to try out.

that's because there is a shortage. dang hoarders and scalpers.

My CZ 452 Varmint likes the 20 gr Hornady much better than the 17 gr V-Max stuff to the tune of less than half the group size at 100 yards. No reason why that I can tell, as my previous CZ 453 Varmint liked the 17 gr bullets better. Your rifle will let you know what it likes.

I can't see the use of a 17 rimfire, when for slightly more recoil in a little heavier rifle you can go with the 7 magnum, which throws bullets with better BC.

huntsman,

No doubt the scalpers are buying all the non-toxic .17's that appear in Montana and reselling them for a vast profit in California, where lead-core bullets are illegal in some areas.

Here we generally think of all bullets as toxic, if they're going fast enough.

maybe montana could keep some of those non-toxic loads around if you import some condors? Gawd knows there are already enuff californians there to push for non-toxic, once they think there is a reason.....

The biggest problem, IMO: influx of Californians like what happened to Colorado, tipping that state toward the libs.

Montana might consider setting up their own "border patrol", limiting left wing infiltration...

Bet the tree huggers and left coast nut cases would love that...

DF

A few years ago there was a bumper sticker going around Montana:
"Californians--Gut-shoot 'Em At The Border."

Actually, I know some ex-Californians here who are good folks, but none brought any condors along for us to shoot.

Those West Coast folks getting away from the Gulag, seeking freedom, should be welcomed with open arms. Gut shoot the others...

DF